Corn-sheller



(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Siesta 2.

H. PAOKER.

CORN SHELLER. No. 293,669, Patented Feb. 19,1884.

WITNESSES INVENTOR (g Q v Z7.

u wttorneys UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

HARVEY PAOKER, on nocx FALLS, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS'A. cam AND GEORGE s. TRACY, BOTH on STERLING, ILLINOIS.

'CORN-SHELLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 293,669, dated February 19, 1884.

Application filed August 24, 1883.

Falls, in the county of Whiteside and State of I Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gorn-Shellers; audI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and I exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and

to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

do not deem it necessary to show or describe a complete sheller, but only so much thereof as will exhibit the application and mode of operation of my invention.

Figure l-is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation with the feed-hopper removed. I Fig. 4 is'a central vertical longitudinal section.

A is the main frame of the SllEllQl,G011t&ll1- ing the usual shelling devices.

B B are transverse shafts placed, respectively, above and below the-throat of the sheller, and between which the corn-passes to reach the shelling mechanism. The shafts B B are rotated in any suitable manner, so that their adjacent surfaces move'in-the same direction having one closed and one open end. The in- G is divided longitudinally by the partition or through such post and brace.

(ModeL) the partitions E into compartments F, of such width as to receive the ordinary ear of corn when lying lengthwise therein. In the bottom of each compartment F is placed the flat longitudinally-reciprocating bar G, consisting of the plate H and spurs L L, attached at suitable intervals lineally on the upper surface thereof.

The spurs L may be constructed of any suitable shape but it is preferable that their front I walls should be perpendicular, and they should be of sufficient height to readily engage the ears of 'cornlying in the compartments F. Any de sired number of compartments F and bars G may be used. The bars G are given a reciproeating motion to and from the throat of the sh'eller by means of a laterally-bent pitman, N,

' pivotall y connected at its front end to the under side of such bars, and having a crank attachment at its rearend on the shaft of the main picker-wheel; or suchbarsinay be reciprocated in many other obvious ways by divers different connections to other parts of the machinery of V the'sheller. The bars G are reciprocated either together or alternately, as may be preferred. The lower ends of the legs or braces D D are attached,-respectively, to the corner-post of the sheller-frame by removable bolt a, passing Each of the braces D is provided with a series of holes for the reception of the bolt a, whereby the front or outer end of the feed-hopper C may be held at any desired altitude. The bars G have width sufficient to extend laterally entirely over the bottom of the compartments F, respectively,

I therefore placebeyond. the point of the outer withdrawal of 5 the inner ends of such bars. The board (I extends inwardly nearly to the inner end of the hopper G, and there forms a close junction with a board, M, (without openings therein,) extending diagonally downward and inward from the inner edge of the board d to the interior of the sheller. Therefore the bars G, board (I, and board M collectively form an'entirely-closed bottom for the hopper G, and a continuous platform for the )assage of the grain, extending from the outer end of such hopper to the interior of the sheller. The board (1 forms the support for the inner ends of the reciprocating bars G, and the residue of such bars is supported by transverse strips 0, fastened at suitable intervals to the bottom of the hopper G. The partitions E are attached between the bars G to the strips 0 and board (I. The outer or front end of the pitman Nis pivotally attached to the lower side of the bars G in one of the intervals between the strips 0, suchinterval being of sufficient width to permit the reciprocating movement of such point of attachment.

The operation of myinvention is as follows: The ear-corn is shoveled into the hopper C at or near its outer end, and by the joint action of the sides of such hopper,the partition E,and bars G the ears of corn are adjusted lengthwise in such hopper, and by the intermittent forward action of thebarsG delivered between the transverse shafts B B, and by means of the latter conveyed into the shelling devices.

The advantages of my invention are-several:

First. The feed, while it is continuous, is not so positive or rigid as in the usual sprocketchain feed, as in the propulsion given the car by the bar G the ear passes slightly ahead of the spurs upon the bar, and may retire somewhat if the interval of entrance be insufiicient at the time.

Second. By reason of the ability to alter the height of the outer end of the fecd hopper it is rendered practicable to regulate the feed, because the more incline given to the feed-hopper the less rapidly will the bars G discharge-the corn into the sheller. In former feeds the illclination of the feed-hopper was immaterial, because the action of the elevating devices was continuous and carried the corn with a positive forward movement.

Third. In all elevators or feeds in which an endless apron or carrying-chain is employed a sufficient opening in the bottom of the hopper at its upper end was necessary to permit the passage of the carrying devices and their upward projections, and through such openings the shelled corn, which was intermixed with the ears or shelled in the operation of shoveling into the hopper, would drop and fail to reach the cleaning mechanism of the sheller, and was often wasted, while in-my invention all shelled corn in the hopper C is discharged down over the board M into the sheller, and cleaned and discharged with the corn shelled thereby.

Fourth. In the operation of my invention the back action and jar of the bars tend to give the overriding cars a backward movement, and it is only the lower stratum of cars which have a continuously forward progress, so that the discharge into the throat of the machine is more uniform than heretofore and of but one stratum of cars.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a corn-sheller, the compartments F, having a width but slightly greater than the transverse diameter of the ears of corn, the bars G, arranged in compartments F, and provided with spurs L, in combination with means for imparting to said bars reciprocating movement in the line of such sheller, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of the hopper 0, compartments F, partitions E, and the reciprocatin g bars G, the whole placed and operating in the line of such sheller, substantially as shown, and for the purpose specified. a

8. In a corn-sheller, the feed-hopper O, having its outer end adjustable vertically, and provided with the partitions E and compartments F, the bars G, arranged to reciprocate in the line of such sheller, and the transverse shafts B, in combination substantially as shown,

and for the purpose mentioned.

4. In a corn-sheller, the combination of the hopper 0, provided with partitions E and compartments F, the board M, the bars G, and means for imparting to such bars reciprocating motion in the line of such sheller, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

5. The hopper 0, provided with a closed bottom, consisting of the bars G and board (I, in combination with the board M and a cornsheller, relatively arranged as hereinbefore described, whereby an uninterrupted and entirely closed surface is provided for the passage of the loose corn from such hopper to such sheller, substantially as shown, and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARVEY PACKER.

\Vitnesses:

J OHN B. \VARD, V. S. FERGUSON. 

